Science fiction and fantasy. Astronomical Data Scientist at STScI/MAST in Baltimore. Opinions are my own. Follow me on Mastodon at mstdn.social/@VirStrakul Longer reviews on my blog: strakul.blogspot.com/
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50% complete! Strakul has read 6 of 12 books.
Shevek, a brilliant physicist, decides to take action. He will seek answers, question the unquestionable, and attempt to tear down …
Shevek, a brilliant physicist, decides to take action. He will seek answers, question the unquestionable, …
A complex book of big ideas. We follow a scientist that ends up embroiled in the sociological implications of his home, the anarchist utopia of the moon Anarres, and how it differs from the planet Urras, which heavily features a more capitalist society. It's an interesting political treatise on these various types of societies and how they both fail at achieving a real utopia, for different reasons. This is a book that really makes you think and wonder at what we could be as a society.
For a longer review, check out my blog: strakul.blogspot.com/2025/05/book-review-dispossessed-by-ursula-k-le.html
A complex book of big ideas. We follow a scientist that ends up embroiled in the sociological implications of his home, the anarchist utopia of the moon Anarres, and how it differs from the planet Urras, which heavily features a more capitalist society. It's an interesting political treatise on these various types of societies and how they both fail at achieving a real utopia, for different reasons. This is a book that really makes you think and wonder at what we could be as a society.
For a longer review, check out my blog: strakul.blogspot.com/2025/05/book-review-dispossessed-by-ursula-k-le.html
Shevek, a brilliant physicist, decides to take action. He will seek answers, question the unquestionable, and attempt to tear down …
The three laws of Robotics: 1) A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human …
The three laws of Robotics: 1) A robot may not injure a human being or, …
A classic, with lots of fun robot stories and how they reveal the use and applications of the Three Laws of Robots. This book has a more positive look towards the future both for humanity and its robots. One can hope that we learn from stories like this.
A somewhat longer review is available at my blog: strakul.blogspot.com/2025/04/book-review-i-robot-by-isaac-asimov.html
Nineteen Eighty-Four: A Novel, often referred to as 1984, is a dystopian social science fiction novel by the English novelist …
"At first, only a few things are known about the celestial object that astronomers dub …
This book is fascinating. It's very much a hallmark of it's time, with a few astronomical inconsistencies now that we know better, but that doesn't detract from it. At it heart, it's about exploring a fascinating space ship from an alien civilization. You, alongside the characters, are left wondering at Rama's purpose, it's inhabitants, and how everything works. The joy of discovery is a central theme for this book. I may not remember the characters or points of the plot years from now, but I will remember Rama.
For a full review, check out my blog: strakul.blogspot.com/2025/02/book-review-rendezvous-with-rama-by.html
This book is fascinating. It's very much a hallmark of it's time, with a few astronomical inconsistencies now that we know better, but that doesn't detract from it. At it heart, it's about exploring a fascinating space ship from an alien civilization. You, alongside the characters, are left wondering at Rama's purpose, it's inhabitants, and how everything works. The joy of discovery is a central theme for this book. I may not remember the characters or points of the plot years from now, but I will remember Rama.
For a full review, check out my blog: strakul.blogspot.com/2025/02/book-review-rendezvous-with-rama-by.html
"At first, only a few things are known about the celestial object that astronomers dub Rama. It is huge. It …
Anathem, the latest invention by the New York Times bestselling author of Cryptonomicon and The Baroque Cycle, is a magnificent …
Anathem, the latest invention by the New York Times bestselling author of Cryptonomicon and The Baroque Cycle, is a magnificent …
1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson adds to his Cosmere universe shared by Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive …
1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson adds to his Cosmere universe shared by Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive …
Dalinar Kholin challenged the evil god Odium to a contest of champions with the future …
This is the ending of the first arc of The Stormlight Archive and it is quite an impressive book. It's very long, and the plot does suffer a bit in the middle parts, but the setting and characters are well established so I felt drawn to it all the way. Overall, it was a great book and a fitting conclusion to this arc. I really want to know what happens next, but suspect it may be several years before we return to Roshar.
For a full review, check out my blog: strakul.blogspot.com/2024/12/book-review-wind-and-truth-by-brandon.html
This is the ending of the first arc of The Stormlight Archive and it is quite an impressive book. It's very long, and the plot does suffer a bit in the middle parts, but the setting and characters are well established so I felt drawn to it all the way. Overall, it was a great book and a fitting conclusion to this arc. I really want to know what happens next, but suspect it may be several years before we return to Roshar.
For a full review, check out my blog: strakul.blogspot.com/2024/12/book-review-wind-and-truth-by-brandon.html
Dalinar Kholin challenged the evil god Odium to a contest of champions with the future of Roshar on the line. …